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I originally learned ALWD and have had to resort to self-teach myself Bluebook. Can someone help me answer these questions about Bluebooking? I use the 18th ed.

1) Where are federal court abbreviations? I can't understand what BT.2 means.
2) Parallel citations – how do you know which jurisdictions require parallel cites and which ones don’t?
3) What is the rule for multiple sections? when do you write 45 U.S.C. §§ 231v(a)-231v(c) and when do you write 45 U.S.C. §§ 231v(a)-(c).
4) In a secondary citation, when do you skip the publisher? right answer: Carol Gilligan, In a Different Voice (1982). my answer: Carol Gilligan, In a Different Voice (Harvard Univ. Press 1982)

Thanks so much.

1. Table 1 provides abbreviations for the various federal courts.

2. Depending on what you are doing, either Table 1 or BT.2.

3. The example you have provided does not have multiple sections. It has multiple subsections within a single section. See Rule 3.3(b), pg. 56: use one §. That same rule addresses the repetition of the "231v," which is only necessary if doing otherwise would be confusing.

4. Not entirely sure what you are asking: is that supposed to be a book? Check out 15.4(a)(iii).

Anonymous Loser wrote: 2. Depending on what you are doing, either Table 1 or BT.2.

Where in Table 1 or BT.2 do you see that? Table 1 just has the names of the reporters, etc. But BT.2, for states, just cites to random statutes. do you have to look up the statutes yourself on the internet?

Sign up for online version at legalbluebook.com. BAM, searchable Bluebook. FTW.

desperate4lawschool wrote:

Anonymous Loser wrote: 2. Depending on what you are doing, either Table 1 or BT.2.

Where in Table 1 or BT.2 do you see that? Table 1 just has the names of the reporters, etc. But BT.2, for states, just cites to random statutes. do you have to look up the statutes yourself on the internet?

BT.2 is simply a list of links to the local rules of various jurisdictions. If you are trying to figure out the proper citation format for a document that will actually be submitted to a court, you'll want to consult the local rules. Reproducing these in the Bluebook would be stupid and pointless, as they are often quite detailed, but only applicable in that particular jurisdiction. If you are merely working on something for a journal or legal writing class, then your choices will be dictated by whatever conventions the journal/professor has chosen to adopt.

And yeah, the online version of the Bluebook is the hot ticket.

desperate4lawschool wrote:I originally learned ALWD and have had to resort to self-teach myself Bluebook. Can someone help me answer these questions about Bluebooking? I use the 18th ed.

1) Where are federal court abbreviations? I can't understand what BT.2 means.

SCOTUS: You don't need to say it. People know it's SCOTUS when they see 52 U.S. 123 (1801).

Circuit Courts: BT.2
1st; 2d; 3d; 4th; 5th; 6th; 7th; 8th; 9th; 10th; 11th; D.C.; Fed. Cir.

District Courts:
D. + T.10: e.g., D. Md.

C. / N. / S. / W. / E.D. + T.10: E.g. N.D. Cal.

Specialized Courts: BT.2 + T.1
E.g., Bankr. C.D. Cal.

Why do schools teach using ALWD if LR is done by bluebook? I wish you could just choose your own method b/c I am very used to and now like the ALWD format.